Learn the DOs and DONTs of marketing. Great for search engine marketing (SEO), marketing offline using full color printing and Internet marketing. LEARN how to communicate your message through effective design strategies. LEARN about social media. LEARN how to manage your web site through our effective web management tools.

Working long hours and in front of the computer all day has forced me to pamper myself a bit more these days. The best "me" time is when I go to the Broward day spa for a swedish massage. Lynn, who is my regular masseuse knows just what to do and how to do it. I've never felt so relaxed after a session from any where else. I used to go to Contour Day Spa but Point Pleasant Wellness is far more superior. Not only in their services but their customer service and truly interested in the wellness of ME.

I've been going to them for years now. It's a beautiful facility in Fort Lauderdale (South Florida). There is always a smiling face that welcomes me after the long pathway the is filled with wonderful aromas and beautiful pictures.

This is a quick guide for Twitter beginners. Twitter is finally growing in popularity. Its being displayed in movies, commercials and even astronauts are using it to tweet from space.

It is an amazing business tool that can really help you reach a whole new clientele if used properly. Think of it as being able to network 24/7 with people all over the world or you can stay local if that is your business goal for the tool.

I have found there are a few tools for Twitter that have made my life easier.

Tweetdeck - This is a desktop application that allows you to group your followers in columns. You can do searches as well and keep it as a column. Only limitation is that you are only allowed no more than 10 columns. I have mine grouped by info only, locals, different industries and friends.

Hashtags - Hashtags are great way to follow a group and for your tweets to be followed by others viewing that group. You'll see popular ones like #followfriday and #fail (www.hashtags.org)

Twitter Search - This is a great place to go when you want to search for specific things that people are tweeting about. Could pertain to your business name or business trends. (search.twitter.com)

TwitterCounter - Allows you to track the increase/decrease of followers (www.twittercounter.com)

Short URLS - Cli.gs is a great site to create short URLS for twitter. Since you are only allowed 140 characters this allows you to put a link that is shorter than the original. It also has stats that allow you to see how popular that link was. You can also customize it to.

TweetStats - This is a great way to track how ofter you tweet, who you tweet the most with. Don't miss out on the TweetCloud tab to see whats the most popular word. (www.tweetstats.com)

TwitterHawk - Marketing tool that searches for people tweeting about specific keywords you choose that is also in targeted areas. Its essentially a lead generator that has a higher hit rate. It sends you the results so you can respond in a timely manner. This service is not free but affordable. (www.twitterhawk.com)

A few Twitter tips before you move on your way to tweeting.

If you are tweeting about something that you want to be retweeted (RT) then only type 120 characters. That gives room for the person RTing to include your name.

Don't be afraid to get personal. Like networking in person, people want to get to know you first before they do business with you.

Be polite. Say thank you when someone RTs something of yours. It gives you a good way to start a conversation and to make friends.

What is #followfriday? This happens every friday where people list their followers that they believe others should follow. Sometimes they list them based on profession, location or one at a time with the reasons why and adding a personal touch.

I hope this helps you get started. I'll soon post twitter tools that are great specifically for business. Stay tuned.

Tell us about your business.We are a creative advertising solution firm providing marketing to increase business and attracting a customer base through print and internet marketing. We also provide solutions with keeping your current customers with up-to-date information on new products that you may offer as well as engaging them in surveys and offering them benefits to lead to more sales. We provide services from concept to completion including logo identities, branding, print collateral design, printing, hosting, e-marketing in web site design and e-newsletters.

We work mainly with small business owners and really enjoy it. We also work with marketing agencies to be their on demand design team.

Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?I’ve been a business owners since the wee age of 18. I bartered for office space in order to get it going and it all just sorta happened. I haven’t looked back since. I’ve enjoyed the freedom and the ability to be the controller of my own destiny. I tried to work for a company but had a difference of opinion with how they ran the company and treated their employees.

What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why? Mainly other business owners. We all stick together really. If it wasn’t for joining NAWBO 8 years ago and meeting the women I did, I’m not sure I would have had the energy or strength to keep on going. Its important to be around other business owners to relate and bounce ideas off of. Everyone shares the best kept secrets which is how the community should be. Giving and supportive.

What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?Starting a business so young and able to live the life that I have through travel and adventure. Be able to give back to my parents that sacrificed so much for me when I was growing up.

What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?Never put your eggs all in one basket and never be afraid to be a risk taker.

What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?Grow. Restructure. Improve!

Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with other small business owners that have helped you succeed?NO better resource than those around you. Better to learn from others mistakes than on your own. The internet is an amazing resource for knowing what is going on NOW in your industry, to see what your competitors are doing and to network 24/7 like on twitter and facebook. I always try to attend atleast one industry conference. Helps you find colleagues that you can bounce ideas off of.

What is Number One Business Goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?Start a secondary business that utilizes the many talents and expertise I’ve acquired over the years. I have a book of ideas and now its time to execute atleast one of those.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?Never lose the passion for your business. I’ve noticed that when you are truly passionate about what you do its contagious and infects others. Then it seems that everyone around you becomes more energized.

Always take time for yourself as it gives you a bit of recharge so that you can accomplish more at the end of the day.Never forget to ask, “How can I help YOU?”

Once again the mail postage rates have gone up ANOTHER $0.02. Which makes it now $0.44. You may not think that is a lot but when you are sending thousands of pieces a week that greatly affects your budget.

So... is USPS trying to make it more difficult for direct mail. I am a firm believer that you should do both online AND offline marketing. However, when those budgets are getting tightened already and then an increase makes it more difficult to hit the targeted audience from all angles. I've already seen a dramatic decrease in amount of pieces in my mailbox from real estate agents. However for agents, now is the best time to market since those semi-serious agents are now onto the next biggest craze for fast cash.

So, for now we will keep on truckin' but I hope that USPS, gives it a reprieve on another increase next May. It was more acceptable when it was every other year or so for a $0.01 increase.